Fluid-actuated control for clutches



Jan. 14, 1930. PATRICK 1,743,476

FLUID ACTUATED CONTROL FOR CLUTCHES Filed Oct. 5. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet lJan. 14, 1930. l. PATRICK 1,743,476

FLUID ACTUATED CONTROL FOR CLUTCHES Filed Oct. 5. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2Jan. 14, 1930. I

I. PATRICK 51mm AGTUATED' CONTROL FOR CLUTCHES,

File 0W5. 1928* s Sheets-sheaf, a

" 4, I ILPATRICKQ ,FLUID ACTUATED CONTROL FOR CLUTCHES Filed 0070; 5,192a a sheets-Shehi l" Jan. 14, 1930. 1. PATRICK FLUID ACTUATED CONTROLFOR CLUTCHES Filed 001:. 5, 1928 6. Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 14, 1930. l.PATRICK 1,743,476

FLUID ACTUATEDQONTROL FOR GLUTCHES Filed Oct. 5, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet ell a I; at 6 5 H; W MW 4W if $1 0 I 1 ...i ig f Patented Jan. 14, 1930UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ISAAC PATRICK, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNOR TO KARQUETTE TOOL & MTG. I

CODANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS num-ao'rua'rnncommon FOR CLUTCHES Boiled for abandoned application serial No. 215,568,filed August 26, 1927. This application filed October 5, 1928. SerialNo. 312,118.

This application is a continuation of my application, Serial Number215,568, filed Au st 26,1927.

his invention relates in general to improvements in controllingmechanism for controlling the operation of a clutch, and one of theob'ects of the invention is to provide an improve fluidoperatedattachment of this character, particularly adapted though notnecessarily limited in its use for sheet metal working machines forcontrollin the operation of the machine by shifting t e clutch to renderthe same active and inactive at predetermined times in the cycle ofoperation of the press or at the will of the 0 erator.

A further object is to provi e an improved fluid actuated attachment ofthis character which itself is controlled by the operation of a foottreadle whereby to start the press all that is necessary is to depressthe treadle. Should the operator neglect to remove his foot from thetreadle the press will automatically stop at the top of the stroke. Iffor any reason it is necessary to stop the press before the cycle ofoperation thereof is completed, this can be done by again depressing thefoot treadle which will stop the press.

That is to say, by the use of this improved attachment the press may bestarted or sto ped by simply depressing the foot treadle an should theoperator neglect to remove his foot from the treadle, the ress'willautomatically stop when the stro e is completed.

A further object is to provide an improved attachment of this characterwhich will be 7 simple and compact in construction, inexpensive tomanufacture, effective and efficient in operation and adapted to bereadily applied to a press.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful ob-.

jects as will ap ear, the invention consists in the features 0 noveltyin substantially the construction, combination and arrangement ofthe-several rts hereinafter more fully described and c aimed and shownin the accompanyingdrawings illustrating this invention, and in which,

Figure 1 is a view partly in front elevation, partly in section and withparts omitted,

Figure 2 is aside elevation of F i re 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the e attachment, partly inelevation, partly in section and partly brokenaway, showing'a portion ofthe frame of the press and with the parts in the position they willassume when the clutch is inactive.

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 4-4, Figure 3. t

Figure 5 is an enlarged view partly in elevation, partly in section andpartly broken away, showing the parts of the attachment in the positionsthey will assume when the clutch is active.

Figure 6 is a detail the controlling valve;

Figure 7 is a detail, horizontal sectional view taken on line 77, Figure3.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view, partly in elevation, partly insection and partly broken away, of t e operating mechanism for shiftingor actuating the controlling valve. Y

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 10 designatesgenerally the supporting structure of a press upon the base of which ismounted a' die 11, with which a die 12 co-operates. The die 12 isconnected with a reciprocating ram 13, which'latter in turn is connectedthrough the medium of suitable links 14 with a crank shaft 15 whichreperspective views of ceives its motion from any suitable source (notshown). v

The press is adaptedto be'rendered active and inactive with respecttocthe source of power by means of a suitable clutch embodymg a member16, with which a clutch member 17 co-operates. The clutch member 17 isadapted to beshifted with respect to the member '16 by means of suitablebell crank levers 18, which in turn are connected by means of links 19with a member-.20, the lat ter being connected to a rod 21 that isadapted to be shifted len hwise thereof by means ofa bell. crank ever 22pivotalli mounted as at 23-, one end of the bell or .box .33 and thefree en lever being connected with the bar or red 21, and to the otherend is connected :1 rod 24, which in turn is connected to a rock shaftjournaled in suitable bearings 26.

A socket 27 is connected with the rock shaft 25, and into this socketone end of a hand lever 28 is ada ted to be inserted so that the rockshaft can e moved to shift the bar or rod 21 manually to render theclutch active suitable bracket .31 and is arrangedat. any

desired elevation above the shaft 25. v

Connected with the piston 30 is a piston rod 32 which passes throu h asuitable stufling of the piston rod 7 is connected by means of asuitable link 34 (see particularlyFigui-e 3) with an arm 35 connected,with the rock shaft 25 so that when the piston is moved downwardly inthe cylinder 29 the shaft 25 will be rocked in one direction so as topull u n the rod 24 to shift the rodor member 21 n one direction, andwhen the'piston 30, moves in the opposite direction in the cylinder.the. rock shaft 25 will berocked in the opposite direction tocorrespondingl shift the rod or member21 tocontrol the cliitch. I g IThe'piston 30 is adapted to be reciprocated .inthe cylinder 29 by uidressure supplied from any suitable source t rough-a supply pipe 36 (seeparticularly Figures 3 and 7), the pipe 36 being connected by one endwith a c 37 in which a valve 38 is adapted to be oscillated. The casin37 isprovided with a port or passage 39 wit which the supply pipe orconduit 36 has constant communication and the valve 38 is provided witha plurality of ports 40 passing entirely therethrough'and which portsare adapted to be successively 'brou ht into register or communicationwith t e passage 39 so as to permit fluid to pass from the pipe 36 andthrough I the valve 38.

The valve 38 is also provided with passages 41 opening through one facethereof and arranged intermediate the ports 40.

The valve casing 37 on the same side of the valve 38 as the passages 41are'located, is provided with an exhaust outlet 42 and two addi- Ptional passages 43-44. Connected with the passage 43 is a pipe 45 whichleads to the cyl inder 29 and has communication therewith.

on the bottom side of the piston 30.

Connected with the port 44 is a pipe 46 which has communication with thecylinder 29 on the upper side of the piston 30.

Connected with the port 42 is a pipe 47,

which latter constitutes an exhaust 1pc.

The passages: 41 are adapted to a ternately connect the passages 43 and44 with the exhaust port 42 which communicates with the vpipe 47 so asto permit the'fluid on the re-. 'spective sides of the piston 30 to bealtcr-, nately exhausted therefrom to permit the pis-' ton tomove in theopposite direction. The ports 40 are adapted, when the valve38 isrotated, to successively establish communication between the inletsupply pipe 36 and passage 37' with the ports 43 and 44 so that theincoming fluid which is entering-under pressure will be delivered toeither the top or bottom side of the piston 30 according to which of theports 43 M44 isin register or communication with the'port 40.

Therefore, it will be manifest that by rotatin the valve 38 so as toalternately direct the uid to'the top and bottom side of the piston andalternately exhaust the fluid thererom, the piston 30 will be causedtobe moved in a corresponding direction in the cylinder 29. When thefluid is admitted to the top 7 side of the piston 30 it is exhaustedfrom the bottom side and as the piston 30 moves downwardl it will lowerthe piston rod 32 and this will, tliroughthe" medium of the link 34 andarm'35 rock the shaft25 to shift the rod or member 21 throughthemediumof'the rod 24 and bell crank lever 23 to render the clutch members 16and 17 inactive and thereby stop the operation of the press.

When the fluid is admitted tothe cylinder on the bottom side ofthe-piston"; 30 and'exhausted from the top side thereof the piston willrise and the rock shaft 25 will berocked in the opposite direction torender the clutch members 16 and 17 active withrespect to each Anysuitable means may be provided for rotating thevalve38 so as to'positionthe same so that the clutch members 16 and 17 will be controlled at apredetermined time in the cycle of operation ofthe press', to stop theress. i

echanical means are also provided which may be actuated at the will ofthe" o rator to stop the press whenever desired, and ivhich mechanicalmeans will also serve to rotate the valve 38. These two valve operatingmeans are so arranged that' the operation of one.

will not interfere with the operation of the other. Connected with thecrank shaft 15 of the ustabI' connected by one end referably throug themedium of a slot and bolt connection- 5051, which renders it'possibletoadjust the connection whenever desired.

ress is a disc 48, withwhich a rod 49 is ad-:

This rod 49 is connected its other end to an arm 52 that is connectedwith a rock shaft 53 journaled in a -suitable'bearing 54'. Connected tothe rock shaft 53 is an arm 55 and connected to this arm 55 is one endof a bar or link 56. 'To the otherend of the bar 56 is pivotallyconnected as at 57 a memher 58 which is 59.

The shaft 59 is journaledin a suitable bearing 60 and also in one of thewallsof the valve casing 37. One extremity of the shaft 59 terminatesadjacent the valve 38 and is reduced as at 61 to form a projection whichis angular in cross section. The extremity of the shaft on which theprojection 61 is formed enters a seat 62 in the adjacent face of thevalve 38 and communicatingwith this seat 62 is a recess 63 which isangular in cross section to receive the angular projection 61 on theshaft 59 so that when theshaft is rotated the valve 38 will becorrespondingly rotated. At the same time this connection between theshaft 59 and the valve 38 serves as a means whereby the valve may bereadily detached from the shaft when desired. 1

Connected with the shaft. 59 for rotation therewith, such as by means ofa key or feather 64, is a ratchet wheel 65 having ratchet teeth 66.Pivotally mounted upon the member 58 as at 67 is a pawl 68, the end ofwhich co-operates with the ratchet teeth 66, and a spring 69 operatesupon the pawl 68, and tends normally to hold the same against theperiphery of the ratchet wheel. As the member 58 is oscillated by theshaft 59 by the reciprocation of the rod or link 56, the pawl 68 will,when the member 58 is lowered from the position shown in full lines inFigure 8 to the posi-. tion shown in dotted lines, ride over the ratchetteeth 66. When the member 58 is raised from the position shownindottedlines to the full line position in .F igure 8, the end of the pawl 68will engage behind one of the ratchet teeth 66 to impart one step ofrotation to the ratchet wheel 65, shaft 59 and valve 38. The rod 49 isconnectedwith the disc 48 in such a manner that when the ramof the pressapproaches the end of its upward movement, the ratchetwheel 65 willimpart one step of rotation to'the valve 38 to render the clutchinactive. It is during the lowering movement of the ram that the pawl 68is positioned by the movement of the member 58 so as to impart anotherstep of rotation to the valve 38 when the ram is reaching the limit ofits upward movement. 0 t

It will'therefore be manifest that upon the completion of each cycle ofoperation of the press fluid will be admitted to the cylinder on thetopside of the piston 30 so as to depress the piston and rock the shaft25 to render the clutch inactive. will be exhausted from-the cylinder onthe loosely mounted upon a shaft bottom side of the piston through thepipe 45, port 43, passage 41 in thevalve 38, exhaust passage 42 andexhaust pipe 47.

When the valve 38 is positioned to admit fluid to the top side of thepiston 30, as

At the same time the fluid 45 which leads from" thebottom side of pistonwill be opened-by reason-of; theport 43 being brought into.communication. with the exhaust port-42thr0ugh the medium-of one of thepassages 41 in the valve 38.

As a means for controlling the operation of p the press at the will ofthe operator, there'is.

provided a lever 70 which is also loosely mounted upon the shaft 59.Pivotally mountedupon the lever 70 as at 71 is a pawl 72 which also isadapted to co-operate with' the ratchet teeth 66 to engage the teeth androtate the ratchet. A spring 73 operates upon .the pawl 72 and tendsnormally to hold it against the periphery of the ratchet wheel.

This lever may be operated by hand by simply grasping the lever andmoving it about its pivot. 7 Means are also provided whereby the levermay be actuated by a foot control and to that end there is provided alink 74 which is pivotally connected at one end as at75 with the lever70. Another lever 76 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends as at 77in any suitable position and to one end of the lever 76 is pivotallyconnected as at 78 the free end of the link 74. Connected with the otherend of the lever 7 6 as at 79 is a rod 80 which passes through asuitable bearing 81 and is pivotally connected as at 82 to an arm 83connected with a shaft 84, and to which shaft 84 is connected a foottreadle 85 arranged in a convenient position for. the operator. I

A coil spring 86 encompasses the rod 80 with one end thereof engagingthe bearing 81. The other end of the spring 86 engages a collar orshoulder 87 on the rod 80 and the spring 86 tends normally to raise thefoot treadle 85 andalso the lever 70 but, when pressure is exerted uponthe foot treadle 85 the spring 86 will be compressed to store energytherein so that when the foot is removed from the treadle 85 the springwill return the control and also the lever 70. I I It will therefore bemanifest that by the operation of'tlie foot treadle 85 or the hand lever70 the press may be stopped at any point in its cycle of operation whichis due to the fact that when the lever 70 is depressed or the foottreadle 85 is depressed, the valve 38 will be rotated so as to admitfluid pressure into the cylinder 29 on the top side of the piston todepress the latter and to exhaust the fluid from the bottom side of thepiston so that the downward movement of the piston in the cylinder willnot be retarded. The lowering of the piston 30 in the cylinder will rockthe shaft 25 and thereby render the clutch inactive. 7

l/Vith this improved construction it will be manifest that to start thepress the'operator need only press the treadle 85 and should he neglectto remove his foot from'the treadle the press will automatically stop atthe top of its stroke by reason of the fact that the member, 58 beingraised will cause the dog 68 to move the ratchet wheel 65 one step ofrotation to permit the fluid to enter the cylinder on the top side ofthe piston and exhaust from the bottom side. I

It will also be manifest that if, for any reason it is desired to stopthe pres before the cycle of operation is completed, this can be done bythe operator depressing the foot treadle 85, which will also positionthe valve v38 to admit the fluid to the top side of the piston 30 andexhaust the fluid from the bottom side thereof. In other words to startor stop the press it is only necessary to depress the foot treadle andshould the operator neg- Tlect to remove his foot, the res will autoeralparts, within the sco matically stop when the stro e is completed. Whilethe preferred form of the invention has been herein-shown anddescribed,it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the detailsof construction and in I cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, meansresponsive to the movement of the piston in the cylinder for controllingthe clutch, a valve casing, ports in the casing connected respectively'with the c linder on opposite sides of the piston, an i et port, anexhaust port, a valve in the valve casing, ports and passages in thevalve, and means responsive to the operation of a movable part of themechanism tobe controlled by the clutch for actuating the valve forconnecting the cylinder on one side of the piston with said inlet portand on the other side of the piston with said exhaust 2. A clutchcontrol device embodying a cylinder, a piston rcciprocabletherein,.means responsive to the movement of the piston in the cylinderfor controlling theclutch, a valve casing, portsin the casing connectedrespectively with the c linder on opposite sides of the piston, an in ctport, an exhaust port, a

valve in'the valve casing, ports and passafis y in the valve,m'eansoperating automatic to actuate the valve for connectin the linderon one side of the piston wit said inlet port and on theother side ofthe piston with also actuating said valve at will.

.3. A clutch control device embodying a cylinder and piston, meansresponsive to the movement of the piston in the cylinderfor said exhaustport, and additional means for controlling the clutch, means embodying avalve for directing fluid pressure to one side of the piston andexhausting fluidpressure from the other side of the piston, a .foottreadle, means nsive to t a movable part 0? the mechanism to be coneoperation of trolled by'the clutch for controlling the operation of thevalve, and an operative connection between the foot treadle and the saidvalve for also controlling the actuation of the valve.

4. A clutch control device embodying a cylinder and piston, meansresponsive to the movement of the piston in the cylinder 'forcontrolling the clutch, means embodying" a valve for directing fluidpressure to one side of the piston and exhausting fluid pressure fromthe other side of the piston, means for automatically actuating thevalve, a foot treadle, and an operative connection between the foottreadle and the valve for controlling the actuation of the valve, thelast said means and the said foot treadle being operable independentlone with respect to the other.

5. A c utch control device embod ing fluid controlled means forcontrolling t e actua tion of the clutch,'mcans operating automaticallyat a predetermined time in t e cycle of operation of the mechanism towhich the clutch is connected for controlling. the operation of the saidfluid controlled means, a foot treadle, and'means responsive tothe'operation of'the said foot treadle for controlling at will theoperation of'said fluid controlled means, both of the'said controllingmeans for the said fluidcontrolled means being operable independently ofeach other.

' 6. A clutch control device embod 'ng fluid controlled means forcontrolling th e actuation of the clutch, means operatin automaticallyat a predetermined time in t 0 cycle of operation of the mechanism ,towhich the clutch is connected for controlling the opera tion ofthe'said' fluid controlled meanaa foot treadle, and means responsivetothe operation of the said foot treadle'for'contro at will theoperation of said fluid controll means, both of the said controllingmeans i for the said fluid controlled means being 0 V erableindependently of each other, thesa d fluid controlled means embodyin avalve device having a constant direction of rotation. 7. A' clutchcontrol device a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, a rock shaft,an operative connection between the shaft and the clutch, anoperativeconnection between said piston and shaft, a valve casing, t

ports in the casing leading to the cylinderand respectively on oppositesides of, the piston,

a fluid supply port in the casing, an exhaust port leading from thecasing, a rotary valve in the casing, ports and for alternatelyconnecting th first said ports respectively with the said inlet andexhaust port, means operatin automatically at a predetermined time in tecycle of operation of; the mechanism to which the clutch is connectedfor actuating thevalve to shift the fluid pressure from one to the otherside of in the valvesaid piston, and means operable at the will of theoperator for also shifting the valve.

8. A clutch control device embodying a cylinder, a piston reciprocabletherein, a rock shaft, an operative connection between the shaft and theclutch, an operative connection between saidpiston and shaft, a valvecasing, ports in the casing leading to the cylinder and respectively onopposite sides of the pis ton, a fluid supply port in the casing, anexhaust port leading from the casing, a rotary valve in the casing,ports and passages in the valve for alternately connecting the firstsaid ports respectively with the said inlet and exhaust port, meansoperating automatically at a predetermined time in the cycle ofoperation of the mechanism to which the clutch is connected foractuating the valve to shift the fluid pressure from one to the otherside of said piston, and means operable at the will of the operator foralso shifting the. valve, the last said means embodying a foot treadle,both of the said valve operating means being, independently operable. I

9. A clutch control device embodying a cylinder, a piston reciprocabletherein, a rock shaft, an operative connection between the shaft and theclutch, an operative connection between said piston and shaft, a valvecasing, ports in the casing leading to the cylinder and respectively onopposite sides of the piston, a fluid supply port in the casing, anexhaust port leading from the casing, a rotary valve in the casing,ports and passages in the valve for alternately connecting the firstsaid ports respectively with the said inlet and exhaust port, a ratchetconnected with the valve for rotating it, means embodying a pawlco-operating with the ratchet for automatically rotating the valve at apredetermined time in the cycle of operation of the mechanism to whichthe clutch is connected, and means embodying a pawl operable upon saidratchet at will for also actuating the valve.

10. A clutch control device embodying a cylinder, a piston reciprocabletherein, a rock shaft, an operative connection between the shaft and theclutch, an operative connection between said piston and shaft, a valvecasing, ports in the casing leading to the cylinder and respectively onopposite sides of the piston, a fluid supply port in the casing, anexhaust port leading from the casing, a rotary valve in the casing,ports and passages in the valve for alternately connecting the firstsaid ports respectively with the said inlet and exhaust port, a ratchetconnected with the valve for rotating it, means embodying a pawlcooperating with the ratchet for automatically rotating the valve at apredetermined time in the cycle of operation of the mechanism to whichthe clutch is connected, a foot treadle, and means embodying a pawloper-' atively connected with said foot treadle and operable upon theratchet forrotatingsaid valve at will. I

11. A clutch control, device embodying a clutch, a rock shaft forcontrolling the operationthereof, fluid pressure means operable uponlthesaid shaft for rocking the same, and

control the operation of the fluid pressure means, and additional meansoperable auto matically to control the fluid pressure means independentlof the said manual means and while the sai manual means is maintained inits said shifted position. I

13. A clutch control device embodying a clutch, an actuating member forcontrolhng the operation thereof, fluid pressure means operable uponsaid actuating means to actuate-it, said fluid pressure means embodyinga rotatable valve device having a constant direction of rotation, manualmeans operable upon the valve to rotate it to control the op-' erationof said fluid ressure means, and automatically actuate means also 0rable upon the valve to rotate it to control t e said fluid pressuremeans, the last recited means being adapted to operate the said valveindependently with respect to and regardless of the position of the saidmanual means.

14s. A clutch control device embodying a clutch, an actuating member forcontrolling the operation thereof, fluid pressure means operable uponsaid actuating means to actuate it, said fluid pressure means embodyinga rotatable valve device having a constant direction of rotation, manualmeans operable upon the valve to rotate it to control the operation ofsaid fluid pressure means, and automatically actuated means also 0 rableupon the valve to rotate it to control t e said fluid pressure means,the last recited means being adapted to operate the said valveindependently with respect to and regardless of the position of the saidmanual means, the said manual means embodying a treadle adapted to bedepressed by the operator.

15. A clutch control device embodying a clutch, an actuating member forcontrolhng III the operation thereof, fluid pressure means operable uponsaid actuating means to actuate it, said fluid pressure means embodyinga rotatable valve device having a constant direction of rotation, manualmeans operable upon the valve to rotate it to control the operation ofsaid fluid pressure means, and antomat'ica-lly actuated means also 0rable upon the valve to rotate it to control t e Said fluid pressuremeans, the last recited means being adaYted to operate the said valveindependent y with respect to and regardless of the position of the saidmanual means, the said manual means embodying a foot treadle and also ahand engaging rtion.

In testimony whereof have signed my 10 name to this specification, onthis 2nd day of 7 October, A. D. 1928.

- ISAAC PATRICK.

